Handpainting cloth with special natural paints

In a small village in Kutch special kind of painting is done on cloth. This technique is a family tradition and not shared with others.

The style of painting is very fine work and time consuming. At present two brother carry on the tradition. Younger brother is under training and seems to enjoy learning this tradition.

These antique skirts are hand painted and colours were still vibrant

Speical dyes are prepared by grinding natural materials on the stone, mixing with...
and than applying with fine piece of wood (?). Small amount of thick paint is put on the hand,
a thread is formed by the dripping paint and applied to the cloth in a free form.

Younger brother painting a wall hanging

Painted wall hanging and box of those special paints

Painted sample of work, sarees and wall hangings

photographed in Dec 1998
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